Where is it...He always leaves it by the door.
In the middle of that cold night of January, Sera woke up. She still had immense headache from the morning before, and she was slightly shaking. She was back in time again, but the fact that she had just lost her sixteen year-old daughter a week ago was vividly engraved in her memories. This long time altering was too much, even for a powerful sorceress like her.
She would never expected that to come from James. It was his fault since he bought that car behind her back. But up to that day, he never learned about her true nature, nor did she plan to reveal it.
Earlier, she had used one of her grandma's recipes in his food. It was a basic herb remedy that would force him to stay asleep for the whole night without noticing she was gone. She felt elated when she finally found the car keys. Wearing her long maternity dress, a scarf and a very warm jacket, she got out.
After a fifteen minute drive, she was ready to meet with Arcadia Bay's mystic. That middle-aged lady was running a candle store as a front, but in reality she was a mystic specializing in curses and energy managing/reading.
"The catalyst of your unborn's curse resides here, in Arcadia Bay" were her words that night Sera had visited.
There were different types of magic users. Sera was coming from a family who were element users. For example, her mother was able to control all types of liquids. She could create medium to high waves in the sea, lakes, or rivers and move them. Her father's origins were Native American, which made him even more powerful in his wind manifestation. However, they had no powers of space and time altering, or future reading. Those were very high on the hierarchy and she needed Raven's help.
Los Angeles, July 22 1994
Taking into account the energy reader's advice, California was the place Sera decided they should move instead. Of course after a lot of convincing of James as well, who had already a steady job in Arcadia Bay and didn't want to move.
The child was born in the afternoon instead of morning now. Sera still chose to give her the name Dawn though. It was her original middle name, and represented the memory of when they first met.
This time, doctors were worried about Rachel being born earlier than she was supposed to. In the end, she turned out healthy, but there were still some complications that resulted in her leg getting a bone damage.
Twenty-one years old now, Rachel sometimes needed a crutch to walk steadily. Mostly when the weather was bad. Her right leg had grown slightly less than the left, which made her moving harder. However, as she grew up, she got better at it without much help.
She was now on the third year in the University to become a lawyer. Ambitious like her father, she wanted to make him proud. Starting from her childhood, he made sure to spoil her as much as he could but was also quite strict.
Rachel still wasn't able to go to the parties and dance that much. She would usually sit near the bar, listen to the music and drink. Her friends would make sure to not leave her alone, but sometimes she insisted they should go without her too. She always made sure to dress on point. Tonight she was wearing a short black dress, matched with jean jacket on top. Despite what people were assuming, she wasn't trying to actually impress anyone. She did it for herself.
It seemed like people were also curious about her love life. Most of her relationships were short-lived, and the last one was with a guy seven years older than her. Back when she was a freshman, he had already graduated from Law School. He was someone her dad liked a lot, but after a while she got bored and broke up with him.
"What does a pretty girl do here alone?" a stranger sit next to her.
For a moment Rachel was taken aback, since she was quite lost in her thoughts. That person was a girl around the same age as her, with short blonde hair. She was wearing a black jacket with a skull shirt underneath, and punk-style boots. Her face was beautiful but also rough, with black cycles hiding under the make up. She had done a good job covering them up, but Rachel was able to spot them from the puffiness under her eyes.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Having fun, huh. I see" for a second, the girl seemed to hesitate "Can I join you?"
"Sure. Nice to meet you by the way"
"Oh, right. I'm Chloe" she remembered to introduce herself, and gave a handshake.
"I'm Rachel" she supported her head on her hand and scanned the stranger. She stopped when green met blue, and kept the eye contact "That's so 2005 by the way. I mean, the handshake"
Chloe faintly smiled said "Back when everything was better" before taking a sip from her drink.
"Thought I should break the ice"
"Pun intended?" Chloe pointed at her glass, which had more ice cubes than alcohol.
"Obviously...so where are you from? I'm a regular here and I have never seen you around"
"You probably don't pay attention much" but it was true, she and Frank had just gotten there.
"Nope. I'm sure I would remember you" Rachel slightly narrowed her eyes, finding cute how that tough looking girl was trying to hide her nervousness.
"I...I'm actually here for business"
"Hm, what kind of business?" Rachel approached.
"Wanna check out?" Chloe asked, receiving a nod "Then let's go"
Rachel supported herself on the bar. She took her bag and got up too. Chloe noticed how she limped, but shook away the thought of asking about it. She was there strictly for work. She had to be friendly, but also keep it professional and not too personal. It was what Frank had advised her, and that's what she found it worked the best too.
Getting out of the club, Rachel exhaled in relief "My friends were gone but I stayed for a bit more. Now, what is your secret stranger?"
"What if I told you, there is something that will make you feel relaxed, pleased and worry-free for the next two-three hours?" Chloe moved her hands in the air, as if forming an imaginary rainbow.
"I'd say you are trying to sell me pot or something"
"Heh" the taller girl smiled awkwardly. Her reaction confirmed Rachel's question, who was not surprised.
She walked closer to Chloe and crossed her arms "Does it also work as a pain killer?"
Chloe looked at the girl's leg again "Yeah...it does"
"Give me the softer you have then. My leg's been acting out with this weather." the blonde took five hundred bucks out of her purse. She noticed how Chloe gasped at the sight "My dad's well off"
"Hey don't just take out so much money like that." The tall girl took it and gave her three packs of pot in return. She searched inside her wallet for change "Someone might see this and mark you. I know how their business work, trust."
"You know from first hand?" Rachel laughed "Just how new are you here? This is LA, even our thieves go for the big fish"
"Well..." they both started walking "You are a big fish from where I come"
"And that would be...?"
"Oregon"
Rachel stopped and her face expression changed. "I...used to know someone from there" she blankly stated.
"Here's my number" Chloe gave a piece of paper with her phone written on it "If you want something else, call me. "We have..." she stuttered a bit before finishing her sentence "we have a big variety of products" she sighed.
Watching her first big client leaving, Chloe could tell she hit a sensitive chord with her previous answer. She knew something was not right but she quickly changed the topic, just like she was advised to. She was still not used to selling drugs to people. Usually, she would be sent to steal or deliver packages, and she wasn't nowhere near as professional as Frank in the social connections department. But this was the only choice her life had led her to.
Ten years ago, she would never thought she'd end up being a drug dealer. Back then, life was hopeful and her heart was still beating.
"I'm not talking about this again!" Rachel walked back and forth in the hallway. Her eyes was pinned on the floor, while she was impatiently tapping her foot on it.
"You were gone since yesterday. Partying all day and night and coming back now?" James' voice got increasingly louder "This is my house, the least you could do was picking up your phone"
"I've asked you multiples times for the keys in Santa Monica. So I won't be a bother with my whims" she emphasized on the word whims, trying to be as sarcastic as possible.
"Don't try to twist my words" James slammed his hand on the dinner table.
"Then why? Are you afraid I'll do what she did?" Rachel closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead "Ever since that day, you've gotten worse. I'm an adult now dad. I don't need your constant supervision. I..." her voice broke and she took a deep breath. She didn't want to fight about the same over and over. But her dad was not making it easy at all.
James was still sitting on the table, his morning paper in front of him. When Rachel got in the house, he was watching TV while having his lunch. Seeing her, his eyes tensed up and his lips pressed together firmly. He tried to restrain himself, but failed.
"I don't feel like this life was meant for me." she exclaimed "It's like, I'm trapped in a dream from which I'm unable to wake up from. I...really need some freedom and for you to trust me more"
"Rachel" James sighed while his daughter walked upstairs. His fist was still clenched and he definitely wasn't going to finish his lunch now. But he let her go to her room without keeping up this conversation anymore. They both didn't like fighting, but lately their arguments were more frequent. He knew his approach wasn't the best, but it was the only way he could think of.
Walking inside her room, Rachel finally burst into tears. She wasn't even sad, she didn't even know whether she was even sad anymore. Her mind start drifting, and she took out the pot from her bag.
Throughout her whole life, she had barely smoked a whole pack of cigarettes. And that was back when she was sixteen and going through that phase. The moment her loneliness got worse.
Taking a drag of the joint, she felt her eyes getting heavier after a while. That girl wasn't lying after all. Pot indeed had all these effects she said...
I remember, standing by the window every Friday after school. Waiting to see you go. Because this was the only time we were just the two of us. You were skipping class almost every day, but you would stay to help with the stock room.
The first time I noticed you, the way you looked was not like the others. Your eyes were tough, but hurt. They hid a type of sorrow that only a sensitive person was able to feel. And that tenderness and roughness was driving me crazy. More and more, I wanted to have you. And you to have me.
But don't get it twisted. Your smile was worth the most.
Rachel woke up sweating. Her head was spinning and she felt her pillow soppy under her eyes. She recalled only crying for a couple of minutes after her fight with James.
Checking the time, five hours had passed since she got back. It was almost dark now. Going downstairs to get a glass of water, she noticed her dad was not home. Must have gone out with Sally again. she thought with a frown.
After drinking to clear her mind a bit, she sat on the living room and thought about her dream. It felt very vivid, but at the same time the images were blurry. She was in a place she had never been before, but it also felt familiar. She could remember the smells and the rest of her senses getting enhanced, as if she was actually walking through that street with the dense vegetation and tall trees. And in the end of that road, a blurry figure of someone reaching out for her, filling that missing piece in her heart.
Chloe was standing under the street light, her hand on hers pockets. Frank was waiting inside McDonald's, watching her talk on the phone for the past five minutes. She had a faint smile on her face.
"Fucking finally Price." he sighed when she finally got in "We're here to discuss business" he pushed his index on the plastic table "Who was that?"
"No one" Chloe turned her head away to cut him off, taking a defensive position.
Frank tapped his fork on his plate, lifting a good amount of french fries with ketchup "New girlfriend huh?"
"You couldn't be further from the truth" Chloe exclaimed. Frank being her business partner for almost five years, he knew how to push her buttons.
"Hey, look at this chick playing the boss here!" he said loud, pointing at her like a neon board "Let me remind you this, Price. No time to waste, no fun and no nothing when he is up our ass" he looked around them and exhaled in frustration "So, how much did you make last night?" Chloe grit her teeth and searched through her pockets. She took out the five hundred bucks and pushed it in front him.
Frank was not easy to handle, just like her. But he was someone she could trust, and besides, she had no other choice but to follow him now.
"Wow" his expression changed and his face lit up "Not bad for a start" he put it inside his wallet "But as you know, we need twenty times more of these"
"No shit"
"So, Price..." he leaned closer "where did you say you got these from again?"
"LA dude. They burn money like wood here"
"Nah-ah" Frank shook his finger from right to left "It's hard to get into business here. Too much competition and clients always chose it from the top. I barely sold some for 80 bucks yesterday. And that's cause I was lucky to come across an impatient druggie"
Chloe took a sip from her cola and crossed her arms. No response.
"Listen...we came here for the big fish, no time for wasting. We need to either get the money quick, or get the hell out before he finds us"
Chloe felt uncomfortable. She knew how Frank would pressure her to keep Rachel close if he learned about her. It wasn't like she was hesitant to pursue a client either. But she just didn't want to involve this particular girl into this mess. Frank wasn't typically too pushing, but when it came down to surviving he was willing to do a lot. Like stealing and putting others in danger. Rachel seemed to be coming from a well-off family. So he would definitely bug her about it, and if Chloe didn't pursue her, he would do it himself.
That girl was nice to her, unlike most of her clients. Chloe felt like she looked at her as a normal person, and not with disgust or disappointment. Neither with the usual sense of rich client entitlement either.
"I-I promise. I won't let this" she hesitated to answer.
"This is your first and last chance Price" Frank sternly pointed at her "You know it's not up to me anyway"
Trying to take a breath, Chloe was twenty minutes late for the festival. It was taking place on a pier in Santa Monica and lots of people were there. Colorful lights and candy everywhere. It was the place where Rachel and her agreed to meet earlier. To be precise, when they spoke on the phone two hours ago. But Chloe had underestimated the long driving distances of a big city like this. Plus, she also got lost a couple of times before getting there.
"Hey" someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"So...you like creeping around strangers?" Chloe greeted Rachel.
"Sometimes. Especially if they are late"
"Huh, yeah sorry about that" she kicked an invisible rock from the ground "I got lost"
"Don't worry silly. I just got here too"
"So...did you use it?"
"Use..?" Rachel took the girl's arm to whisper, making sure no one hears them. "You mean the weed? Yeah, but I actually lied about why I wanted to meet"
Chloe stopped walking and leaned her back on the pier's fence. She put her hands inside her jacket pockets. "Just don't tell me you're a cop"
"No, my leg not working is for real. They wouldn't hire me, even if I wanted to" she teased.
"Oh" Chloe rubbed the back of her neck. She felt bad for making her talk about it.
"It just...today is different" Rachel's expression changed. "And I wanted to spend it with someone instead of what I usually do"
Chloe took a cigarette out of her jacket and lit it. She remembered Frank's words, and according to them, she had to take advantage of that rich girl. Having been through hell for the past five months, she felt like she was slowly losing her self.
Fuck Frank. And fuck Damon. Meeting a person who wanted to talk was not going to happen soon anyway. Taking a good inhaling of her smoke, Chloe looked up the sky.
"Then you can talk about it with me"
Rachel put her back on the fence too, and her shoulder touched Chloe's. "Today is my birthday."
"Happy birthday then, princess"
"Thanks but, that's not the point. My...mom. I haven't seen her for years. Few weeks before I turned sixteen, she just left without a warning. From then on, I hate this day"
Chloe felt a sharp pinch in her heart. She knew the pain of losing a parent herself well. But their situations weren't exactly the same.
Rachel leaned her head on Chloe's shoulder. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath before breaking the contact again.
"You know, if someone saw us they'd think we are a couple" Rachel teased, taking a step forward, to stand in front of her.
"I know the pain" Chloe spoke after a good minute of silence. "My-my dad died in 2008. It was a car accident"
"I'm so sorry" Rachel gave a pat on the girl's shoulder.
"And here I am today" she got off the fence and walked around, swinging her arms to lit her second cigarette. The first was over too fast. "He was gone, and I had no one I felt I could talk with. My mom obviously tried" she exhaled, her voice turning bitter "but apparently her boyfriend was more important. The other person I always felt I could trust wasn't there either" Chloe stared into the dark sky, spacing out "Before leaving...she promised she would always be by my side"
She paused and the blue of her irises got mixed with red. It felt weird she thought, while rubbing them with her hands. It had been a while since she felt that pressure in her eyes. It was getting worse the more she tried holding the tears back.
"I don't hate her though, I still love her. But back when I had no one, she wasn't there either. I remember how I craved for her to come back and save me from the world" Chloe cracked a bitter smile. She knew how stupid it sounded, this whole idea of a SuperMax coming back to help her. "But no one was there for me, Rachel"
Rachel stood there silent. She thought listening would be the best she could do now, but she also felt like they had a lot in common.
"Heard she is back in town now. Who would have thought, right?"
"Sounds like you had a crush" Rachel stated with an inspecting tone. She sit on a bench near the edge of the pier and Chloe followed too.
"I don't...who the hell cares anyway." the girl sounded angry, but there was a shaking underneath her voice.
"What about your mom? Do you still keep in touch?"
"Our contact is limited. She was actually the one who told me about Max."
"Max" Rachel repeated. She could tell to whom that name belonged to.
"My friend...ex-friend, whatever. I just send a text to my mom once a week to show I'm fine, so she won't think I've gone missing and call the cops on my ass. That's the last thing I need right now" Chloe got up, giving a helping hand to the blonde. "Come, let's walk"
They headed towards the crowd in the festival. Fireworks were now embellishing the night. The area was filled with smells of cotton candy and pop corn. On the other side of the pier, there was a local group singing on stage. Nearby, there were hot dog and drinks cart vendors. Chloe took out two rumply bucks of her pockets and bought a beer.
"So, what brings you here beautiful stranger?"
"Well, two years after my dad died I was on a dead-end. This was when I started hanging out with Arcadia's trash." Chloe took a good two sips from her drink "After a while, I met Frank and shortly after we've been business partners. I somehow had to take control of my life, you know? Do something instead of sitting there and rotting into my misery"
That was almost the whole truth of her story. But Chloe made sure to leave the uglier parts out. Like the fact that they owed money to one of the biggest West Coast drug dealers. Also, she didn't want to completely ruin her image in front of Rachel either. She wasn't going to see her again anyway, so she decided leaving the best impression she could, was what she wanted.
"You know" Rachel took the beer and drank too "I don't know if I'm even sad my mom's gone, but I'm definitely angry. I don't even know if she's dead, and sometimes I don't even care"
They roamed inside the crowd. Happy faces all around enjoying the festival. Kids pulling their parents towards the game sections, asking for money. Rachel thought they need to change the mood for a bit. She took out her wallet and bought a dozen of caramel apples in a box. They were colorful and sprinkled.
Even though it had been a while since they both opened up to someone, it felt cathartic. But when something starts, it has to end too. And after having some mindless roaming, now it was the time to say goodbye.
Chloe knew she wouldn't stay in LA for any longer since she was unable to find the money needed. At least as quick as she had to before Damon found them. Before going to LA, they had high hopes for this town. It was a big letdown. Besides Rachel, she had only sold drugs worth of her weekly rent and meals. And she was still feeling hungry everyday. If she went to Arcadia Bay, she'd either have to report Damon, or live on the constant fear of getting stabbed at any time given. By doing the first, police would arrest her for drug trafficking, and she would get in prison. Chloe Price had fucked up and she knew. But even now, a part inside her would rather live this type of life instead of going back to that Hell Hole. The place that was a reminder of all the people who abandoned her.
"Here we are" Chloe said when they got in front of that old rusty car she was using. "I...thanks for everything" she shook the box of apples Rachel bought for her earlier "They're gonna make an awesome breakfast tomorrow"
Everything was going great, even the moments of the bad feelings coming out. But why did Rachel feel that dread? Like if she let her go now, she would never seen her again. She would disappear like a shadow.
Instinctively, she put her hands on Chloe's face and kissed her. Flashbacks of last night's dream started surfacing. That person's blurry form was now getting more clear.
Looking up at Chloe, she was half surprised and her eyes tensed. They were hiding an inexplicable type of pain. Neither of them wanted to let go. The pull felt too strong, like a fire that would burn them but was too warm to resist.
Chloe took Rachel by the hand and led her inside her rusty car. After driving for a while, they were now inside the cheap Motel room she was renting.
Rachel felt her heart racing really fast and her senses alert and amplified. After discarding their shoes, she caressed Chloe's hair before pulling off her own shirt. Chloe's smell was making her excited, and she wasn't even half way through. Joining their lips again, she removed the girl's top, revealing a black bra.
"That's hot" Rachel mumbled while running her fingers up and down the bare back, feeling the smooth skin. Her breathing got faster when she found its clasp and unbuttoned it. Kissing the girl's neck, she left a wet trace before marking it.
Stroking the blonde's hair, Chloe who was not usually submissive felt like losing control of her body.
Standing up, Rachel landed between a pair of legs. Slowly dancing, she removed all of her tops as well. Her half-closed eyes were pinned on the blue ones, and her mouth formed into a smirk. She got aroused by how obviously into it her partner was. Thoughts were swarming through her head, but she ignored them and kept on.
Chloe's hands started slightly shaking, before she found the courage to touch the newfound naked area, and to receive a moan from her partner.
"When was your last time?" Rachel's question came out a bit like a threat because of the intensity of the situation. She was surprised herself too, by how quickly her button was switched on.
"Long ago" Chloe got bashful.
Breaking News
Unexpected hurricane hit the North-West area twenty minutes ago, damaging the coastal areas. The Fire and Police Departments are doing their best to help people get away safely. The number of victims remains unknown, but so far there are 54 reported missing people.
Scientists can't explain this phenomenon, since it's not Hurricane Seas-
"That's shit" Frank turned off the TV and tried to focus on finishing the rest of his meal. A microwaved hamburger that tasted like it was expired. It was the last one he had left inside his fridge besides a couple of tomatoes and a cola. Giving it up, he decided he'd rather starve for the rest of the night than risk any food poisoning.
He got into his kitchen and washed off the plate. But a sudden gunshot forced his adrenaline to reach its peak. He ran to his bedroom to grab his gun, but his RV's door got smashed quickly. Before finding the time to take it, Damon was already inside, pointing his own at Frank.
"Missed me motherfucker?" he spit on the floor, making Frank to freeze. He got really close and then grabbed Frank's arms and twisted them behind his back. Two of his men entered the RV with guns too.
"Where's my money?" pulling him by the hair, he smashed Frank's face on the window.
Frank screamed in pain, feeling pieces of glass getting stuck inside his face and skull. His hands trembled and he took 580 bucks from his pocket. Damon growled and threw him on the floor. Kicking him on the stomach, Frank felt like he was about to puke.
"You have the audacity to not only betray my trust and steal from me, but also think you could run away with it?!" Damon kicked him again hard on the same area, and this time Frank started spitting blood "Where's that chick friend of yours?"
"Bitch left" he managed to speak with a trembling voice. His head was spinning around and he was half unconscious "H-Haven't seen her..."
"Wrong answer" Damon gave the last and worst hit, and got Frank unconscious. He didn't pull the trigger, but he left the man there to die. After they made a mess of the RV, they found a paper with an address.
Chloe woke up in the middle of the night, holding Rachel and feeling torn exactly in the middle. She really didn't want to leave the town, but deep inside, she was also very aware she couldn't. But right now her feelings disagreed, they were more selfish.
Her life was really messed up, probably beyond repairing now. After a lot of contemplation while hearing Rachel calmly sleeping, she got up. If I short this shit out, maybe I can come back to find her, she thought.
The sun was almost out, and she had to meet up with Frank today. They had plans before living the city.
While she was in the bathroom freshening up, she heard a loud thud busting open her door.
Rachel who was still asleep woke up forcefully, her eyesight turning black from getting up too abruptly. Her blood ran fast through her veins, as she was now faced with man pointing a gun at her and smirking. After the initial shock, she grabbed the bed sheets to cover up her naked body.
"Where's your girlfriend?" the man asked, wearing a disgusting smile on his face.
"I have no idea what you're talking about" she tried to take a step back, but her leg felt too weak. She stumbled and fell on the floor.
"Leave her alone!" Chloe dashed out of the bathroom "This is between us"
Damon shoot in the air before pointing his gun at Chloe. "Long time no see Price" he approached Chloe, also checking back at Rachel. She was up again and staring at him. "How do you think I stay on top? I make sure to remind everyone that they don't fuck with me" he shot her on the leg, and Chloe screamed in pain. She fell down, pressing hard on her open wound.
"Get out" Rachel said quietly with a warning undertone. She felt her rage growing.
"Or what?" he smirked before shooting Chloe's second leg. "See? You cripples have more in common now"
She looked at Chloe who was panting in pain, struggling to breath. With that second shooting, Chloe closed her eyes and her crying got quieter. The blood stain under her legs was spreading around more.
"I said get the hell out now!" Rachel yelled from the top of her lungs. A current of air lifted Damon up and threw him on the wall behind, while green eyes pinned at his, giving him the death stare. She had no idea what had just happened, but it felt natural. Her leg stopped hurting, and it was like she was in touch with herself the most she'd ever been. A newfound energy rushing through her body, as if it was exactly what she was made of.
Damon had been thrown on a drawing frame on the wall, and broken pieces of glass stabbed his back. Dusting off his jacket, he spit out blood.
Checking Chloe who was now laying unconscious, Rachel got enraged. She wanted to call 911 immediately, but he was still there, creepily smiling at her for no apparent reason. Her nose started bleeding and she gritted her teeth. Then, multiple currents formed inside the room and lifted Damon up. They hit him in all possible directions in the walls.
After that, Rachel's nose bled even more and she got weaker. Whipping it away, the man got up again.
"Just like I thought" he pulled out a second gun from his boot. The girl sat on the bed, trying to regain her energy. "You two are too similar"
"Just leave us" Rachel mumbled.
"Her mistake, she didn't stay to teach you how to control this. Maybe she thought you'd have more chances to get away from it this way" he polished his gun provocatively.
The blonde hit her fists on the bed with her remaining strength "Get the hell out" she insisted "I don't care about your bullshit" but instinctively she knew. She could feel what he was talking about.
"She was doing great until now, I'll give her that." Damon sat on the corner of the bed near Rachel. She had never felt a need to kill someone before, but she was getting weaker as the minutes were passing by. He was wearing a mocking expression, as if he was really proud of his actions.
"I just came to finish these two bitches off. Who would have ever thought her precious daughter would be here too. You know, you are pretty popular among our cycle. But two birds one stone, right?" he lifted Rachel's chin up, staring at her "It will be a such a waste too"
Damon loaded his gun "It's gonna be fun to see how she deals with it now"
Local drug dealers found beaten in a critical condition in Los Angeles. They have both been identified by the authorities and are now hospitalized. Police found the man first, who was the one who called to inform them about his location and his partner being in danger. Neither of them have testified yet, but it is suspected that's the work of a large drug trafficking gang. The police managed to arrive soon to manage and save him and his 21 year old partner.
Unfortunately, for the third person who was involved, things didn't turn out well. The second woman of same age wasn't lucky enough to survive. She was found dead with a bullet on her ribs. The motive of her getting shot remains unclear, as she wasn't involved with any of the drug dealings. Her identity remains protected and won't be revealed.
We'll have more news about the case in our 9pm News.
"I'm so, so sorry Joyce. I feel really awful for calling you only now"
"I wasn't a great mother to her either, Max." the woman put her hand on her daughter's who was still unconscious. Her eyes teared up and she sobbed. The guilt of not being able to properly help Chloe would stay with her forever.
"I'll never leave Chloe again, no matter what comes next. I promise." the girl leaned on Joyce's shoulder.
They both had visited Chloe in LA hospital. She had lost a lot of blood, but the doctors said she wasn't in danger anymore. Max promised she was going to financially help them, so they could get a good lawyer to defend Chloe for her drug crimes. David had let Joyce know that he would be there if they need anything. But they decided they had to take a break for now, so Chloe would come back and get used to it easier.
The weather of Arcadia Bay was getting worse and most of the citizens had moved away by now. Half of its forest had vanished after a fire starting, which got stronger from the winds near the area w
